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Jail for solicitor who plundered elderly client’s bank account
A solicitor struck off for “outrageous plundering” of the assets of an elderly client suffering from dementia has now been jailed for six years.
No retainer between law firm and businessman in £2.5m dispute
There was no express or implied retainer between a law firm and a businessman with a “colourful commercial career” suing it for £2.5m in damages, the High Court has ruled.
Consumers open to optional top-up cover to reduce cost of PII
Consumers are open to the idea of mandatory professional indemnity insurance cover being lower and therefore cheaper, with the option to top it up, research has suggested.
Charities and patient groups urge rethink on negligence costs plans
Nine charities and patients organisations have urged health secretary Sajid Javid to rethink plans to impose fixed costs on clinical negligence claims worth up to £25,000.
Lawyers limit community care cases “to help firms stay afloat”
Community care lawyers are limiting the amount and type of legal aid work they do to ensure that their firms remain financially viable. The field is also struggling with recruitment and retention.
PE-backed PI firm eyes stream of acquisitions after first deal
The biggest specialist personal injury firm in the country, owned by private equity since last October, has made the first in a regular series of acquisitions for the next few years.
Family misfortunes – Acting for relatives lands solicitors in hot water
Two solicitors have found themselves in regulatory bother because of the involvement of family in the matters they were dealing with, one a property purchase and the other a will.
Choosing London lawyers “does not guarantee” hearing in capital
The freedom of parties to choose their lawyers should not “transform into an ability to choose a venue”, a High Court judge has said in moving a judicial review hearing from London to Leeds.
Apology appeases court after yet another judgment embargo breach
The High Court has accepted an apology from a party which broke an embargo on a ruling, in the third such case in the space of just two months.
“Go big or go home” – PE-backed consolidator makes first acquisition
Fisher Jones Greenwood, an Essex law firm backed by private equity firm Blixt Group, has announced its first acquisition as part of their plan to create a £100m national law firm.
Blog
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
Is Google becoming pay-to-play for law firms?
For years, law firms have been told that SEO is the long-term alternative to paying for every click. That principle hasn’t disappeared but search results have changed significantly.
Material information and the case for intelligent client onboarding
Upfront information means work traditionally undertaken after an offer is accepted will need to happen earlier. And that fundamentally changes the role of client onboarding.
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